May. 25, 2008 - Summer Homeschool/?One Home Next Year
As the rest of you finish up your year, I am preparing to start summer school with my two. They are not able to handle the freedom of a summer without plans and structure. No school is disasterous for them. I am thinking about how to meet their needs and yet add some fun in for them. I know the areas they are weak in.
Becca moved to the Christian school this year and was demoted from 4th grade public to 3rd grade. Even with this, she still struggles in her reading comprehension. We will do LOTS of reading this summer. Jonathan reads at the same level as Becca and I have 3 copies of many books. I want to sit and just have each of us take turns reading a paragraph and enjoy books together. Jonathan does not comprehend paragraphs, so this will help him.
I will do math and language with each child. Jonathan needs extra help in language and spelling. Becca tested at the 6th grade level with spelling, so any spelling will be just to keep her sharp. That is all I have concluded on the subjects to teach. I haven't looked beyond that. Last summer, we did a lot of science and the kids had a ton of fun with that . I want to look at what we have and find more to make things fun.
Another idea I have is to have a chart of "classroom" that we graph each day with goals to reach. I haven't worked this all out. But, I am thinking that if we reach our goals on behavior, we will have "fun" days. Something like: Music Mondays, Field Trip Fridays, etc. I am trying to think of ideas here to give them something to work for. This kind of goes against the theory of their therapy, but I want to give it a go anyway. RAD (Reactive Attachment Disorder) kids tend to sabotage anything fun that is coming up. They have a hard time with enjoying a mom. They want to hate moms and see moms as bad. I am hoping that we have made some progress this year. I will know VERY quickly as I try this. They will let my know, by their actions if they are ready to handle this.
I strongly suspect that I will have one child home for next year. Jonathan is not doing well in the public school. He has missed too many concepts along the way and needs a more individualized program. I was totally thinking it needed to be him that needed to be home. God may be directing me in another direction. Now, it is looking to me like he wants Becca home and Jonathan in the Christian school. I am waiting and listening - sometimes it is confusing to know if I am hearing His voice or reacting to something in me. I want to give it time, for things to be clear, rather than to act on my first thoughts. I think I have most of what I need for either child, at least to start the year, so I am not sweating that too much.
